The Rev. Kiran Medilpalli checks out a datil pepper, comparing it with the hot flavors popular in India. Standing, from left: Mary Ellen Masters, Betty Jo Brubaker and Sylvia Johns. By LORRAINE THOMPSON, Correspondent.

In the rural community of Elkton, the soil has been tilled, the spring crops have been planted and are showing steady growth and the ladies of St. Ambrose Catholic Church Parish have begun the annual ritual of “Minorcanizing” in preparation for the church’s spring fair.

The fair, now in its 132nd year, takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on the church grounds in Moccasin Branch. Through the years it has evolved from a small local gathering of Minorcans who came together after the planting of spring crops to enjoy a day of friendship, good food, and relaxation, to a larger event that draws people from miles away.

For the past few weeks, the women have gathered in the parish hall kitchen to prepare the vegetables and the meats that go into their finest Minorcan recipes like pork pilau and clam chowder, both flavored with locally grown datil peppers. This year, however, the ladies faced a different challenge. Their new pastor, the Rev. Kiran Medipalli, a native of India, was raised on foods that were infused with curry, a combination of spices and herbs including fresh or dried hot chillies.

Medipalli was not convinced that Minorcan food is as hot as curried foods — until he took the taste test.

Mary Ellen Masters, Betty Jo Brubaker and Sylvia Johns set a dish of pork pilau in front of the young priest. After a brief taste, he shook his head and declared that curry is hotter. That’s when the ladies brought out their version of datil pepper sauce and a dish of pure datil peppers to add to the pilau.

With the first bite of a pepper, the result was instant.

“You’re right,” he exclaimed as he reached for a bottle of water. “It is hotter.”

“Consider yourself Minorcanized,” Brubaker declared.

The word “Minorcanize” won’t be found in the dictionary or on Google. Brubaker is credited with creating the word several years ago in the church kitchen as the women prepared the food.

While the Minorcanizing part of the fair may not be for everyone, there will be plenty of “ordinary” food, including ham, hotdogs and hamburgers, French fries, as well as beverages, ice cream, and an array of homemade baked goods and deserts. Dinner sides will include steamed cabbage, green beans, coleslaw, potato salad and rolls.

Throughout the our-hour event there will be kids’ games, prizes, hay rides, an antique car show, garage and yard sale, a country store, a silent auction, plus 50-50 drawings every 45 minutes.

Entertainment will be provided by the Red River Band.

A framed oil painting of Moccasin Branch by parishioner Joe Taylor will be raffled at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 each. Ticket holders do not need to be present at raffle time.